2024 is the year of the backsplash – and though we're only four months in, we've already seen a wave of celebrities embracing the dramatic backsplash movement.
Honorable mentions go to Zendaya and Jennifer Aniston, both of whom have experimented with a 'slab backsplash' feature – but country music singer Trisha Yearwood has reminded us even the most traditional backsplashes tap into this trend.
Yearwood, who aptly resides in Tennessee, brought her followers inside her monochromatic kitchen, complete with black countertops and white cabinets. Arguably, however, the most interesting part is her aforementioned kitchen backsplash, which is designed to appear like rustic, exposed brick behind her sink and counter space. The look is classic but powerful enough to make a statement – and, despite being labeled a 'kitchen trend,' it's sure to stand the test of time.
According to Asia Ligas, the design experience manager at Block Renovation, reclaimed features, specifically brick, are topping design trends for 2024, and their power goes beyond the backsplash.
'Reclaimed brick, barn wood, and reclaimed metal add character and history to furniture, flooring, and even walls,' Ligas notes. And she is not alone in her observations.
Following this year's Cevisama show, Maria D Arráez, the director of Tile of Spain, and Clara Vicedo, the marketing and communications executive at ASCER, similarly noted a rise in natural kitchens, notably brick-style tiles that were a prominent look at the Valencia-based event.
'Rich and warm, this year's color palette focuses on introducing the earthy colors of the natural world, both indoors and outdoors,' they say.
'From olive and moss greens to terracotta and clay, Spanish manufacturers have created a diverse selection of tile sizes, finishes, and colors, from on-trend terrazzo to three-dimensional brick tiles and distressed large-format floor tiles. The result is an inviting space that will stand the test of time.'
In some kitchens, such as the one designed by deVOL above, exposed brick is a part of the home's architecture, so accentuating it is simple. However, in more modern homes, including (what appears to be Yearwood's space), we need to get more inventive. Kitchen tiles, much like the ones Arráez and Vicedo observed, are an impactful way to bring the exposed-brick look into a contemporary space – starting with the backsplash.
'The best kitchen backsplash ideas are the ones that work for your individual space and appeal to your personal tastes. So there are no right or wrong choices, and different designs suit different homes,' adds Richard Skeoch, a tile specialist at Hyperion Tiles. This reassures us that even the most traditional-style tiles have a place in modern kitchens – if we like Yearwood's look, all we need to do is invest.
Shop the Yearwood-inspired look
Backsplash aside, we can tap into Yearwood's kitchen with buys inspired by the pieces she has atop her countertops.
